Press Releases

Groundbreaking Study is Good News for Minnesota

ST. PAUL, MINN. (November 6, 2014) – Yesterday,
the Minnesota Department of Commerce released the findings of its year-long
Minnesota Renewable Energy Integration and Transmission Study (MRITS). The engineering study conducted by Minnesota
utilities and transmission companies in coordination with the Midcontinent
Independent System Operator (MISO) examined the ability to increase the state’s
Renewable Energy Standard to 40% by 2030, and higher proportions thereafter,
while maintaining system reliability.

“Minnesota has been a leader in
technical studies to integrate renewables and create a robust electric grid.
The study released yesterday continues the trend. Wind on the Wires thanks the utilities,
transmission companies, MISO and the Department of Commerce for their
leadership,” said Wind on the Wires Executive Director Beth Soholt. “Relatively
modest upgrades and additions to the existing transmission system are needed to
achieve a 40% level of renewables. Wind
on the Wires looks forward to working with utilities and other stakeholders on
operational and power system impacts as the state adds more renewables.

“The Minnesota Clean Energy Economy Profile report shows that Minnesota has seen clean energy employment grow
78% since 2000 with 15,300 workers employed in a variety of clean energy
sectors in 2014. The investments that
have been made in clean energy and transmission so far have served us well.”

#
# #

About Wind on the Wires

Wind on the Wires is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in
St. Paul, Minn., which is comprised of wind developers, environmental
organizations, tribal representatives, public interest groups, clean energy
advocates, farm groups and businesses providing goods and services to the wind
industry. Our mission is to overcome the barriers to bringing wind energy to
market by addressing technical and regulatory issues, as well as through
education and public outreach.